NFL Clarifies Stadium Bag Rules

Bags Must Be Clear With No Tints Or Shaded Colors

The National Football League will allow fans to bring non-NFL branded clear bags into stadiums this season, as long as the logos meet certain size requirements, Counselor has learned. The decision comes after speculation earlier this month that the NFL would only permit bags branded with team or league logos.

The NFL told Counselor this week that the bags must be clear – with no tints or shaded colors – so security personnel can "gain a 360 degree view of the contents." The league notes, though, that "some stadiums may implement a more restrictive policy" than the official NFL rules, meaning some logos might be flagged.

The permitted bags, per the NFL, must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and cannot exceed 12" x 6" x 12" in size. The logos themselves can't be bigger than 4.5" tall and 3.4" wide. The league says the reason for the new bag rules is to improve safety and move fans through security lines faster. The NFL is not allowing fans to enter games with standard-sized purses, computer or camera bags, backpacks, fanny packs, coolers or seat cushions.

With the new rules in place, distributors have been getting orders for the clear bags and at least one industry supplier – California-based Bagworld (asi/37980) – has had its bags reviewed by the NFL and has gotten approval to sell them for game-day use. Besides potential sales opportunities for clear NFL stadium bags, suppliers expect a spike in future orders related to collegiate safety. Among major universities, Rutgers has already announced a bag policy similar to that of the NFL and it appears likely other schools will follow suit.